India vs West Indies 2016: Indian players getting used to Jamaican conditions with rigorous training
The Virat Kohli-led Indian Test team followed a rigorous exercise schedule to get used to the hot and humid conditions in Jamaica, ahead of the second Test which begins on 30th July, 2016. The players were in Sabina Park hours after they landed in Jamaica. A thumping victory over West Indies by an innings and 92 runs was a perfect start for the Indians in the first match of the India-West Indies test series. Virat Kohli along with Ravichandran Ashwin put brilliant individual performances to demolish the hosts at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
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The southpaw from Delhi, Shikhar Dhawan, was seen sweating in the nets, he played a great supporting role in the first Test but was unfortunate not to reach the three-figure mark when he was dismissed for 84 runs by West Indian spinner Devendra Bishoo. Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha was busy practising his skills with the gloves; he impressed everyone with his performance behind the wicket and was involved in 7 dismissals which included 6 catches and a stumping.
Indian spinner Amit Mishra feels that going through rigorous training throughout the day helped the team to a great extent and get used to the conditions. The leggy said, “Working out here for long today has helped us get used to the conditions here. It is pretty hot and humid, perhaps more than earlier. Now we don’t expect to face problems in the lead-up the match and can get quickly acclimatized for it.”
The player from Delhi added, “There is still some time to go for the Test, so we will have to wait and watch what the groundsmen do with the grass. I personally don’t expect the wicket to look like the practice pitches at the square here.”
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Meanwhile, opener Murali Vijay’s sore thumb was a minor injury scare but was nothing severe; he had a light workout too. The Indian team scripted its highest Test victory outside Asia in the first match. Their previous best was when they defeated Zimbabwe by an innings and 90 runs in Bulawayo back in 2005. They would be looking forward to clinching the on-going series, which is going to be the third Test series win on the Caribbean soil in the trot.
Anil Kumble, the newly appointed coach of the Indian cricket team will be pretty happy about his start as coach of the team.